Credit: Angela Rowlings

Credit: Stuart Cahill

Tatyana McFadden of the USA crosses the finish line in 1:45:25 to win the Women's wheelchair race at the 117th running of the Boston Marathon.

Credit: Stuart Cahill

Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia and Rita Jeptoo of Kenya pose for photos after their wins at the 117th running of the Boston Marathon.

Credit: Stuart Cahill

Shalane Flanagan finishes 4th in the 117th running of the Boston Marathon.

Credit: Stuart Cahill

Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia wins the 117th running of the Boston Marathon.

Credit: John Wilcox

Rita Jeptoo approaches the finish line for her win today in the 117th running of the Boston Marathon.

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Hours before yesterday’s tragedy unfolded with a pair of explosions near the finish line on Boylston Street, Rita Jeptoo managed to win her second laurel wreath in Boston.

The Kenyan combined a tactically patient strategy with an unconquerable final surge to capture the women’s title, crossing the finish line alone in 2:26:25, breaking a five-year streak of remarkably tight races.

Ethiopian upstart Meseret Hailu Debele placed second in 2:26:58 while defending champion Sharon Cherop of Kenya was third in 2:27:01.

American hopeful Shalane Flanagan of Marblehead came in fourth in 2:27:08. Her Nike teammate Kara Goucher, who was making her third Boston start, finished sixth in 2:28:11.

“I was training well in Kenya and I didn’t have enough training last year and I changed many things,” said Jeptoo, hours before the explosions brought an end to the race at 2:50 p.m.

Jeptoo was at the height of her powers in 2006, when she won here in a stellar time of 2:23.38. Her subsequent trips from Hopkinton to Boston (2007, 2008 and 2012) failed to produce a laurel wreath. Last year, she slumped to sixth in 2:35:53.

Jeptoo returned to peak form by running a personal-best 2:22:04 at Chicago on Oct. 7, 2012. Jeptoo’s romp around the benign Windy City route was a strategic dress rehearsal for the greater challenges and stronger field that waited here.

“Last year, I was not ready, but this year I was so ready to come and run the Boston Marathon,” said Jeptoo, who has also won marathons in Stockholm, Milan and Lisbon. “I was running like it was 2006 and I have energy.

“I had a lot of energy because I was running really light.”

Cherop made her third consecutive strong run on this course. She placed third in the 2011 Boston Marathon with her fastest time (2:22:42). She came in first last year with her slowest time (2:31.50). Cherop’s effort yesterday fell neatly between the two times.

“The weather was nicer (than) 2011 and not hot like last year,” said Cherop. “I was in tip-top shape, but I ran with my friend Rita and she ran faster than (me).

“I am so happy with my performance because since I’ve been running in Boston I have never had a bad performance. I look forward to coming back again to Boston.”

Jeptoo enjoyed her back-in-time moment, but Hailu Debele, 22, is the sport’s rising star. Hailu Debele made her debut in Singapore at 19 and she’s been on an ambitious upward trajectory with 10 marathons in four years.

Hailu Debele made her Boston debut following a record-breaking run at Amsterdam on Oct. 21, 2012. The smooth Ethiopian blistered that flat course in 2:21:09.

“I am very happy to come to Boston for the first time and to travel to the United States,” said Hailu Debele. “I finished in second place and I am very happy, but the race actually in the first half was too slow and the last half was very fast.

“We were racing too much with each other but I was in second position . . . I hope to come back to Boston and improve my place and my time.”

Yolanda Caballero of Colombia built a sizable lead on the Framingham Flats, and held off a challenge from Kenyan Diana Chepkemoi Sigei at Natick Center. Running confidently and controlled, Caballero maintained a 100-meter lead on the field through the Wellesley Hills.

Ana Dulce Felix of Portugal made her move on the downhill into Newton Lower Falls and was in command at the firehouse turn. Felix climbed Heartbreak Hill alone and built a huge lead on the downturn after Boston College.

Jeptoo and Cherop collaborated to run down Felix, with Flanagan and Hailu Debele on their heels.